China Digital Transit Cards: How to Get & Use Them in Every City (2026)
Complete guide to China's digital transit cards. Shanghai, Beijing T-Union, how to get them via Alipay/WeChat/Apple Wallet, intercity compatibility, tourist passes, and deposit refunds.
Table of Contents
TL;DR: Every Chinese city has a transit card, but in 2026 you barely need the physical one. Alipay generates city-specific transit QR codes that work for metro AND bus in most cities. Apple Wallet now supports digital transit cards for several Chinese cities (Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou). The T-Union standard links 300+ cities — one physical card works across most of China. For most tourists: use Alipay Transport QR or Apple Wallet. Skip the physical card unless you’re staying months.
The 2026 Reality: You Probably Don’t Need a Physical Card
Until a few years ago, every foreign traveler needed to buy a physical transit card (¥20 deposit, load it with cash, refund the deposit at the end). That’s mostly gone now. Here’s what’s replaced it.
Option 1: Alipay Transport QR Code (Best for Most)
Alipay’s transport feature covers the metro, bus, and sometimes even ferry in nearly every Chinese city. It’s the simplest option for most travelers.
Setup:
- Open Alipay
- Tap “Transport” (出行) on the home screen
- It auto-detects your city and shows the right QR code
- For metro: scan at the gate
- For bus: scan at the reader near the driver
- Fare auto-deducted from your linked card
The city-switching trick: When you arrive in a new city, Alipay prompts you to switch to the local transit card. Accept it. Each city’s card is separate in the system. It takes 3 seconds and costs nothing.
Covers: Metro, bus, and in some cities (Shanghai, Hangzhou) the ferry. Not taxis or DiDi — those are separate.
The downside: You need internet for the QR code to generate. If your data is spotty at a metro gate, you’re stuck. This is the main advantage of a physical card or Apple Wallet — they work offline.
Option 2: Apple Wallet Digital Transit Card (iPhone Users)
Apple Wallet now supports digital transit cards for several Chinese cities. These work exactly like the physical card but live on your phone — tap the gate, it deducts the fare. No internet needed after setup. No Alipay QR code required.
Supported cities (as of 2026):
- Shanghai Public Transportation Card (上海公共交通卡)
- Beijing Yikatong (北京一卡通)
- Guangzhou Yangchengtong (羊城通)
- and expanding to more cities
Setup:
- Open Apple Wallet
- Tap ”+” → “Transit Card”
- Search for the city name
- Add the card, load with money (¥50 minimum)
- Done. Use at any metro gate or bus reader that supports contactless
The intercity bonus: Cards with the T-Union (交通联合) logo work in 300+ Chinese cities, including all major ones. If your Shanghai card has the T-Union logo (most new ones do), it works in Beijing, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Xi’an — basically everywhere. One card. Most cities. The Shanghai and Beijing digital cards in Apple Wallet include T-Union support.
For Android users: Google Wallet doesn’t support Chinese transit cards. Use Alipay QR instead. Samsung Pay and Huawei Pay have Chinese transit card support if you’re using those platforms.
Option 3: Physical Transit Card (Still Works, Still Cheap)
If you prefer physical, get a card at any metro station service counter:
- ¥20 deposit (refundable at major stations)
- Load ¥50-200
- Tap at gates, tap on buses
- Refund the deposit + remaining balance at the end of your trip (major stations only)
Where to refund: Not every station does refunds. Major interchange stations and airport stations do. Ask for “退卡” (tuì kǎ) — refund card. You’ll get cash back for the deposit and remaining balance (minus a small service fee on some cards).
T-Union physical cards: Look for the “交通联合” (T-Union) logo on the card. If it has this logo, it works in 300+ cities. If not, it’s city-specific only.
Option 4: WeChat Pay Transport
WeChat Pay has transport QR codes similar to Alipay. Setup through WeChat mini-programs. Slightly more steps than Alipay but same end result. If you use WeChat Pay as your primary payment method, this is the natural choice.
Tourist Passes: Do They Exist?
Yes, but they’re rarely worth it for short-term visitors.
- Shanghai: 1-day metro pass ¥18, 3-day ¥45. Worth it if you’re taking 5+ metro rides per day. Most tourists take 3-4.
- Beijing: 1-day ¥20, 3-day ¥50. Same math — only worth it for heavy metro use.
- Other cities: Varying availability. Check at the metro station service counter.
For most visitors, paying per ride is cheaper than a pass unless you’re speed-running the city.
The Recommendation
| Traveler Type | Best Option | |---|---| | Short trip (1-7 days), iPhone user | Apple Wallet digital transit card (Shanghai or Beijing T-Union) | | Short trip, Android user | Alipay Transport QR | | Longer stay (2+ weeks) | Apple Wallet T-Union card (if iPhone) or physical T-Union card | | Tech-minimalist | Physical T-Union card from any metro station | | Budget optimizer | Alipay QR (pay as you go, no deposit, no refund hassle) |
The simplest path: Set up Alipay Transport before your trip. It takes 1 minute. It works everywhere. If you have an iPhone, also add a Shanghai or Beijing T-Union card to Apple Wallet as offline backup. Between those two, you’ll never be stuck at a gate.
